That lifted the villagers two points ahead of Barton – and they are now just a point adrift of Saints with two matches to play.

Spurred by confirmation that three teams will be going down this summer, the Northampton men started strongly, forcing a fine early save from Elliot Rider, and they found themselves with an extra man from the 15th minute when Alex Iodine’s tackle was deemed worthy of a red card.

But Khalsa instantly took the lead, Stuart Gooderham forcing a short corner that was rammed home by Aaron Nagra, and they regrouped in the second half to take a firm grip on the game.

Joe Colantonio stroked in their second goal and created the third for Gurminder Ghattaura with a magnificent pass.

And with Jack Wells and Chris Darling pulling the midfield strings, Anit Chudasama earned Nagra the chance to snap up his second short corner and Saints had to settle for a late consolation from Alex Press.

Szymon Oszyjczyk fired home his 49th goal of the season for Rugby & East Warwickshire but it counted for nothing in team terms as Charlie Brooke (2) and Will Good swung a 3-1 decision for visitors West Bridgford.

Coventry & North Warwickshire secured a much-needed morale booster when they overcame South Nottingham 4-2, Ed Benfield marking his return to action with a decisive double.

Sam Clarke gave them the ideal start when he tapped home following good work by Dom Bell and Mitch Wise, and the skipper then produced a fine run to tee up Benfield’s first.

Coventry squandered a number of other good chances but Wise atoned for his miss two minutes into the second half when he converted Bell’s pass to make it 3-0.

They lost some of their momentum at that stage but Benfield’s second split home efforts from Tom Crossland and Ryan Day and Adam Merrell stayed sharp to ensure the points were banked.

Warwick made it three wins on the spin in Midlands Two, Martyn Stickley totting up a hat-trick to see off Shrewsbury 3-1 and boost his season’s individual haul to 30.

Terry Malcolm went one better with four as Stratford overwhelmed Leicester 8-0, Craig McKee (2), Alex Byrd and Mark Leary also on target.

And Casey Dennis piled up six to supply half the Warwick University tally in a 12-0 romp against Wellingborough, James Morris scoring twice while Matt Jarno, Rob Kirk, Robert McGeachie and Tom Spencer divvied up the rest.

Henry Delacave (2) and Robby Wells were on the mark for Berkswell & Balsall Common but Coalville took the East Midlands Premier spoils 5-3 with a goal apiece from Jordan Ward, Mike Browbank, James Carter, Calum Slaney and Matt Woolridge.

Cameron Form’s double provided some consolation as Atherstone went down 4-2 at home to East Midlands One pace-setters Tamworth, Ben Popple (2), Tom Hancox and Dave Langford doing the damage.

Jatt Gill and Jag Bancil had already gone close when Subi Dhanjal opened the Union account from close range, but a couple of defensive lapses temporarily put them on the back foot before Sunny Shoker set up Bancil.

More good work by Shoker enabled Arminder Baath to make it 3-2 at the interval and Shoker was again heavily involved as Shin Bhachu rifled in a reverse stick.

Baath snapped up the rebound after Indi Mann’s shot had been saved and Drayton were somewhat flattered by a scrappy late third – Ed Gibson, Brendan Jones and Jesse Thompstone their marksmen.

Rob Palmer hit the Leamington consolation as they bowed 3-2 to a hat-trick by Old Wulfrunians’s Mark Wilson.